CERN meets new Oracle cloud incubator startups

The world's largest physics lab visits Bristol to see if Oracle accelerator startups could offer potential for collaboration

6th September 2017

Last week, Swiss-based CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research – made the trip to Bristol’s tech hub Engine Shed to meet the Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator’s first cohort of startups to find out whether any hold the potential for exciting future partnerships and collaborations.

“The Large Hadron Collider presents us with significant computing challenges, so we partner with companies such as Oracle in order to develop solutions”

Following a tour, CERN representative and computing engineer Ben Jones used the opportunity to inspire the startups with more on its unique research tool, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator – which is capable of helping to answer some of the most probing questions in fundamental physics.

You can find out more about CERN and its research in the video below:

CERN, who are already major customers of Oracle, use a significant amount of Oracle technology to deal with the huge volumes of data and computation required for the management of experiments and analysis of data from the LHC.

Hoping that the startups taking part in Oracle’s accelerator programme could also have the potential to contribute so some of this groundbreaking research, Ben tells us: “The LHC presents us with significant computing challenges, so we partner with companies such as Oracle in order to develop solutions, including in the cloud. As an engineer, I was excited to hear more about how local startups were using cloud computing to solve the challenges that they face.”

“From advanced AI databases to battery-free materials defect sensors, there were some great projects”

Marina Traversari, Oracle Cloud Startup Accelerator Programme Manager (pictured left), adds: “In some cases startups may have solutions to address problems being faced at CERN. Startups dealing with significant computational loads or data volumes can also learn how CERN is addressing similar challenges at scale and often using Oracle technologies which are available to the startups via Oracle’s accelerator programme.”

Collision of ideas

The new Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator startups are only just starting the new programme this month, but they’re clearly already making a big impression.

“I’ve heard a lot about the growth in the technology sector in Bristol and the South East”

Ben tells us: “I think that one of the great things about spaces such as the Engine Shed is that you don’t always approach them with a particular goal of having something to gain. Some of the best ideas and best collaborations occur when we just talk with people about the problems they have and the problems they are trying to solve. This is often how it works with science too. It was great to see lots of disparate startups working in such close proximity and hear more about what they are doing.

“I was honestly struck by the quality of everyone we spoke with, and the range. From advanced AI databases to battery-free materials defect sensors, there were some great projects.”

He adds: “It’s also the first time in about 8 years that I’ve visited Bristol, and the city seems to be buzzing with activity. I’ve heard a lot about the growth in the technology sector in Bristol and the South East, and it was very impressive to see it in person.”

The startups taking part in Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator are due to be announced later this month so stay tuned to Oracle website for updates and information. Alternatively you can follow news on the startups by following the Accelerator on Twitter here: @OracleSCA.

Involved in the tech community since her first meetup back in 2013, Alice came on board as TechSPARK's Assistant Editor in 2014 and was promoted to Editor in 2018. She loves a good tech conference and has covered both local and international events over the years. She is also a sucker for anything that uses tech to do good in the world.
In her spare time she can usually be found exploring the great outdoors or taking part in some sort of ridiculous sporting challenge.